IOC chief vows ‘zero tolerance’ if Russia doping proved

MONACO (AFP) – The International Olympic Committee will impose a “zero tolerance” punishment if accusations of widespread doping by Russian athletes are proved, IOC president Thomas Bach said Saturday.

“What is important for the IOC is that we take these allegations seriously,” Bach told a news conference when asked about the doping claims made in a German television documentary.

He said the IOC had written to the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) ethics commission demanding “to be informed about all the results which may affect people and the jurisdiction of the IOC.”

“If such allegations should be proven by the IAAF ethics commission then the IOC will react with its zero tolerance policy,” Bach vowed.

Russian officials have strongly denied the claims of state-backed doping made in the documentary. The Russian athletics federation has said it is considering legal action.

The IOC has already called for a speedy investigation into the claims.

The documentary featured accusations by 800m runner Yulia Stepanova, who is banned until January for a doping violation, and her husband Vitaly Stepanov, who worked for Russia’s anti-doping agency between 2008 and 2011. Stepanova secretly filmed a coach offering her banned steroids.